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• PET/CT is an important contributor towards sarcoma grading, prognostication and evaluation of treatment response. • PET/CT provides discriminative ability of tumour SUV to differentiate low- from high-grade sarcomas in suitable subtypes. • PET/CT facilitates early identification of patients who will respond to treatment. • PET/CT increases yield of staging by limiting its use to patients who are at greater risk metastases. • Larger prospective trials will be helpful to further establish the clinical value of PET/CT in sarcoma staging and restaging. Sarcomas are a heterogeneous group of malignant tumours with variable clinical outcomes. Their presence in multiple body locations represents significant diagnostic and therapeutic challenges. Positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) is an imaging tool that provides semiquantitative measurements of radiotracer concentration in tissue, such as SUV max (standardised uptake value) and is increasingly used in clinical practice. This systematic review aims to evaluate the utility of PET/CT in sarcoma grading and prognostication, evaluation of treatment response, staging and restaging. Relevant studies published from January 2003 to August 2017 evaluating the utility of PET/CT in sarcoma grading and prognostication, staging, evaluation of treatment response and restaging were systematically searched for in scientific databases (e.g. PubMed, Medline and Embase) using key terms, including "soft tissue sarcoma," "osteosarcoma," "utility" and "PET/CT". Additionally, references of identified studies were reviewed. Study quality was assessed by "Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies". A total of 12 prospective studies (level II to III evidence) were included in the review for tumour grading and prognostication. There was a strong correlation between SUV and tumour grade where majority of intermediate/ high-grade STS have a significantly higher SUV max. PET/CT has also shown potential in prognostication where decrease in SUV max correlated with recurrence-free survival in both osteosarcoma and STS. Furthermore, 8 prospective trials of level II to IV evidence according to Oxford Centre of Evidence-based Medicine (CEBM) demonstrated the use of PET/CT in early identification of patients who will respond to treatment where ≥60% decrease in FDG uptake resulted in sensitivity and specificity of 100% and 71% respectively for assessment of histopathologic response. 11 retrospective trials (level III to IV evidence) reported on the use of PET/CT in staging and restaging with heterogeneous results. Overall, higher quality evidence demonstrated PET/CT to be an important contributor towards sarcoma grading, prognostication and evaluation of treatment response. Larger prospective trials will be helpful to further establish the clinical value of PET/CT in sarcoma staging and restaging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Breast cancer is a significantly burdening women's cancer with limited diagnostic modalities. DEK is a novel biomarker overexpressed in breast cancers, currently exhaustively researched for its diagnosis and prognosis. Search for relevant meta-analyses, cohorts, and experimental studies in the last fifteen years was done in five large scientific databases. Non-English, non-full text articles or unrelated studies were excluded. Thirteen articles discussed the potential of DEK to estimate breast cancer characteristics, treatment outcomes, and prognosis. This proto-oncogene plays a role in breast carcinogenesis, increasing tumour proliferation and invasion, preventing apoptosis, and creating an immunodeficient tumour milieu with M2 tumour-associated macrophages. DEK is also associated with worse clinicopathological features and survival in breast cancer patients. Using a Kaplan-Meier plotter data analysis, DEK expression predicts worse overall survival (HR 1.24, 95%CI: 1.01–1.52, p = 0.039), comparable to other biomarkers. DEK is a promising novel biomarker requiring further research to determine its bedside applications. [Display omitted] • DEK is involved in proliferation, infiltration, and angiogenesis in breast cancer. • DEK overexpression predicts the size, histology, and clinical characteristics of tumours. • There is an association between DEK and metastasis and worse survival in breast cancer. • Further research is paramount to determine the bedside role of DEK detection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Non-cytotoxic therapy has changed the treatment paradigm for advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. With unique mechanisms of action, these agents have decidedly improved survival and have demonstrated an improved toxicity profile. However, the real-life experience of the patient, which is commonly assessed by health-related quality of life (HRQoL) measurement, is not clearly established with this new generation of lung cancer treatments. The heterogeneity created by specific patient subgroups and different therapeutics calls for a tailored-approach to analyzing patient-reported outcomes. The objective of this systematic review was to assess the methodological quality of HRQoL analysis in Randomized Clinical Trials (RCTs) involving biologic agents to treat NSCLC. A systematic literature search was performed using Medline, Embase, and Web of Science databases to identify NSCLC RCTs published between January 1st, 2000 and January 1st, 2020 reporting HRQoL measures. Only RCTs that both enrolled previously untreated patients with advanced NSCLC and had HRQoL analysis were included. 4203 abstracts were screened, of which only 85 RCTs met inclusion and exclusion criteria for analysis. The most applied HRQoL assessment tools were the EORTC-QLQ-C30 (47, 55.3 %), and EORTC-QLQ-LC13 (35, 41.2 %). The median number of verified CONSORT-PRO Extension criteria in the included trials was 3, and only in 10 (11.8 %) trials were all criteria well-documented. Notably, only 21 (24.7 %) RCTs performed subgroup analyses to specifically evaluate HRQoL in different patient populations. QoL reporting in clinical trials is inconsistent and the quality of QoL measures adopted in a majority of trials is suboptimal. Considering the fact that NSCLC is a biologically diverse disease and that the treatments differ based on patient and tumor-specifics, efforts should be pursued to tailor QoL measures for different subsets of this patient population in addition to mandating QoL reporting in clinical trials. We believe that this is necessary to understand the real-life experience of lung cancer patients in the era of personalized medicine. [Display omitted] • Only two HRQoL instruments were used in 31 % of 85 clinical trials to evaluate PROs. • 12 % of the included trials met all CONSORT Extension Criteria for PRO reporting. • Subgroup analysis to evaluate PROs was performed only in 24.7 % of the studies. • Patient heterogeneity supports the incorporation of tailored tools for PRO analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Using hypofractionated regiments for therapeutic/palliative indications. • Delaying radiotherapy for several weeks or until pandemic over. • Omitting RT by replacement of alternative therapies or active surveillance. • Applying safer patients' setup and preparation protocols. • Developing telemedicine/telehealth service. Treatment management of cancer patients in the radiation oncology departments during the current COVID-19 pandemic is challenging. A systematic review of published consensus/guidelines on the role of radiotherapy prioritization, suggested treatment protocols, and set up management was undertaken based on the PRISMA protocol and through PubMed/PMC, Scopus, Google Scholar, Web of Science databases until 01/20/2021. One hundred and sixty-eight publications or regional consensus were included. Summary of recommendations contained: (1) using hypo-fractionated (Hypo-F) regimens for therapeutic/palliative indications, (2) delaying radiotherapy for several weeks or until pandemic over, (3) omitting radiotherapy by replacement of alternative therapies or active surveillance, (4) applying safer patients' setup and preparation protocols, (5) developing telemedicine/telehealth service. To conclude, it is essential to carefully weigh the risk of exposure to COVID-19 infection and the benefit of treating cancer patients during the pandemic. Trying to have a global guideline facing this or any other probable crisis is crucial for health care service. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• There are clear associations between levels of cytokine proteins and symptoms in advanced cancer. • IL-6, TNF-α and the IL-1 cytokines are the most frequently associated with symptoms. • Further work is vital to characterise exact relationships between cytokines and symptoms. • Future studies should employ longitudinal measurement and consensus methods. Development and spread of cancer is linked to the inflammatory response, in which cytokines serve a key role. The inflammatory response may also form the basis for symptoms of cancer. This systematic review examines the relationship between cytokines and symptoms in incurable cancer. MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, CINAHL, Web of Science and PsycINFO databases were searched for studies from January 2004 to January 2020. Twenty studies were selected (n = 1806 patients, 119 controls). Symptoms studied included depression, fatigue, pain, and loss of appetite. Nine studies examined patients with a specified tumour type, the remainder included patients with a mix of tumour types. Thirty-one cytokines were examined; multiple associations between cytokines and symptoms were described, supporting the hypothesis that cytokines may have a key role in symptom generation. Symptoms of incurable cancer are associated with circulating cytokines. Further study is required to characterise these relationships, and to explore their therapeutic potential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A number of epidemiological studies have suggested a positive association between periodontal diseases and oro-digestive cancers, including liver cancer. The purpose of the present systematic review was to analyze the current evidence regarding the potential association between periodontitis and/or tooth loss and the risk of liver cancer. A comprehensive search of PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science databases was conducted in August 2019. The inclusion criteria comprised all observational studies that assessed the relationship between periodontitis or tooth loss and liver cancer. Case reports, animal studies, experimental studies, and reviews were excluded. Due to great heterogeneity among the included studies, no meta-analysis was conducted. Six studies (five prospective cohorts and one case-control) comprising 619,834 subjects (including 916 liver cancer cases) were included. The studies were conducted in the United States, Europe, and Asia. Three large-scale cohort studies reported a positive association between periodontitis or tooth loss and the risk of liver cancer. One case-control study found some association between liver cancer and loss of 12−23 teeth, but such association was not replicated in patients with greater number of tooth loss. Contrarily, two studies failed to report any association between periodontitis and/or tooth loss and the risk of liver cancer. The available evidence suggests a possible link between tooth loss/periodontitis and the risk of liver cancer. However, the evidence is not conclusive enough, a fact that drives to conduct more, well-designed, prospective cohort studies to further explore the potential association between periodontitis and the risk of liver cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This systematic review and meta-analysis provides epidemiological data on the relationship between chronic inflammation, as measured by inflammatory blood parameters, and cancer incidence. Two independent researchers searched PubMed, Web Of Science and Embase databases until October 2020. In vitro studies, animal studies, studies with chronically-ill subjects or cross-sectional studies were excluded. Quality was assessed with the Newcastle–Ottawa scale. The 59 nested case-control, 6 nested case-cohort and 42 prospective cohort studies considered 119 different inflammatory markers (top three: CRP, fibrinogen and IL6) and 26 cancer types (top five: colorectal, lung, breast, overall and prostate cancer). Nineteen meta-analyses resulted in ten significant positive associations: CRP-breast (OR = 1.23[1.05–1.43];HR = 1.14[1.01–1.28)), CRP-colorectal (OR = 1.34[1.11–1.60]), CRP-lung (HR = 2.03[1.59–2.60]), fibrinogen-lung (OR = 2.56[1.86–3.54]), IL6-lung (OR = 1.41[1.12–1.78]), CRP-ovarian (OR = 1.41[1.10–1.80]), CRP-prostate (HR = 1.09[1.03–1.15]), CRP-overall (HR = 1.35[1.16–1.57]) and fibrinogen-overall (OR = 1.22[1.07–1.39]). Study quality improvements can be done by better verification of inflammatory status (more than one baseline measurement of one parameter), adjusting for important confounders and ensuring long-term follow-up. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Head and neck radiotherapy often causes salivary gland hypofunction and xerostomia. • The effects of PBM on radioinduced salivary dysfunction are not yet clear. • Our meta-analysis showed that PBM is able to minimize radio-induced hyposalivation. • Both unstimulated and stimulated salivary flows seem to benefit from PBM. Head and neck radiotherapy can cause hypofunction of the salivary glands. Many studies report that laser photobiomodulation (PBM) is able to minimize radiation-induced hyposalivation, yet there is no consensus about its effects. To carry out a meta-analysis of controlled clinical trials that used PBM to prevent radiation-induced hyposalivation. Methods: A systematic search was performed through Embase, Medline/PubMed, Cochrane, EBSCO, Scopus, LILACS and Web of Science databases. The strategy included comparisons of the effect of PBM with placebo/clinical follow-up on unstimulated and/or stimulated salivary flow in patients undergoing head and neck radiotherapy. Six clinical trials were included, five of which were used for meta-analysis. Evidence was observed between the use of PBM and increased unstimulated salivary flow (MD 0.20 mL/min, 95 % Cl 0.10−0.30, I² = 96 %, p < 0.00001) and in stimulated salivary flow (MD 0.27 mL/min, 95 % CI 0.08−0.46, I² = 95 %, p < 0.00001). PBM appears to minimize radiation-induced hyposalivation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Patients who undergo HSCT are on high risk of developing periodontal complications. • The available evidence suggest that periodontitis is associated with GVHD. • Proper periodontal screening and clearance pre-HSCT are mandatory. The aim of this systematic review was to determine a potential association between periodontal disease and graft versus host disease (GVHD). PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science databases were searched to identify all relevant articles. The eligibility criteria were prospective, retrospective, cross-sectional, cohort, case-control studies and interventional studies that assessed periodontal parameters in GVHD adults' patients. Seven studies, published between 2000 and 2018, were eligible. The aggravation of periodontal tissues is due to inadequate oral hygiene, dental plaque, decays, gum recession, retained roots, tooth loss, periodontally infected teeth. Several studies have indicated that periodontitis treatment performed before transplantation showed the reduction of gingival inflammation and maintenance of periodontal health. Periodontitis might be a risk factor for GVHD. However, due to the limited number of studies included in the review and their heterogeneity, more data are needed to sustain the correlation between periodontitis and GVHD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]